Steam-supplied carbureter.



H. A. BABBITT. STEAM SUPPLIED GARBUBBTER. AYPPLIG'ATIOH IILED we. 11, 1911.

Patented Apr. 29,1913.

HARRY A. BABBITT, OF LITTLE ROCK,

1 l un on.

ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR TC MODERN GIN AND COMPRESS COMPANY, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, A CORPORATION OF ARKANSAS.

STEAM-SUPPLIED CARBURETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, rate.

Application filed August 1.1-, 1911. Serial No. 643,501.

-useful Improvements in Steam-Supplied Carbureter, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means by which steam may be injected into the carburetor of an internal combus- .strainer.

tion engine for increasing the efficiency of the explosive charge, and for regulating such supply of steam; and specifically, it is directed to means for derlvin the steam for this, purpose from the over ow water from the jacket by heating the same by means of the exhaust.

' It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims- In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with its radiator and provided with devices embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the governing device and strainer.

In the drawin there is shown only so much of the englne to which the invention is applied as necessary to understand the mode of application of the devices constituting the invention. A, A, A, A are the four cylinders of a four-cylinder engine. B is the exhaust manifold. C is the overflow pipe leading from the water jackets of the cylinders- D is the radiator or cooler to which the overflow pipe, C, leads. E represents the carburetor. The particular form shown is immaterial and may be regarded as conventional and indeed, all the parts thus far enumerated .of an internal combustion engine may be regarded as conventionally shown, no specific form of these parts being material to the present invention.

For the purpose of the present invention there is mounted in fixed position with respect to the engine cylinders a water chamber, F, which is supplied with water through a strainer, G, which is connected for receiving water supply with the vertically extending arm, C of the overflow pipe, C, a valve, H, bein interposed in the connection between sai pipe and said The detail construction of the strainer 'may be described. It consists of an outer cylindrical member, G, interiorly threaded at both ends and provided at top and bottom with threaded plugs, G and G which terminate inwardly in annular flanges beveled on their inner circumference, so that they are adapted to engage and center between them an interior perforated cylindrical member, G The water enters the outer cylinder through the connection controlled by the valve, H, and passing through the perforated cylinder or strainer member emerges through a pipe, K, screwed into the center of the lower plug, G The pipe, K, which is screwed into the top of the water chamber, F, has its lower discharge mouth conically counterbored for receiving the tapered terminal or valve element, L of a float-and-valve stem, L, which' extends axially in the chamber, F, being centered and guided at its lower end in a plug, M, screwed into the bottom of the chamber, F, and axially bored to receive and center the lower end of the stem, L. On the stem, L, is a float, N, positioned at the middle portlon of the height of the chamber. A screw, 0, set through the top of the chamber, F, can be adjusted to limit the upward movement of the float, and the plug, M, can be adjusted through the bottom of the chamber'to limit the downward movement. In operation, the overflow water from the cylinder jackets is in part diverted from the upstanding member, C of the overflow pipe through the strainer, G, into the chamber, F, wherein the float, N, determines the height at which the water can rise in said chamber.

The device is designed to be adjusted so ithat the water will be maintained in said chamber at a level above the bottom wall of the manifold, B, for reasons which'will hereinafter appear. From the bottom of the chamber, F, discharge for the water is provided through a pipe, P, which extends up through the manifold at a point at from all the cylinders. The height of the -tends in proper course to discharge at Q into the carbureter 'E. A pop valve, B, may be provided at any convenient point in the pipe, Q. It will be seen that it is of the utmost importance that the water should not fail to reach the portion of the pipe, P, which traverses the manifold, and also that it should not occupy said pipe above or beyond that point to such an extent as to 'create liability of discharge of water instead of steam into the carbureter; and for this reason, it is important that the automatic governing device described should be provided.

- It will be observed that any change of the height to which the water rises in the portion of the conduit, P, which extends through the exhaust manifold may cause a change in the amount of steam generated and discharged into the carbureter, and also may cause a change in the temperature dryness and tension and consequent force of discharge of such steam into the carbureter; and an adjustment of the chamber, F, or of the float, N, therein may be desirable for the purpose of modifying the amount and temperature of the steam. The entire chamber, F, is preferably, therefore, mounted so as to .be adjustable vertically, the slotted bracket, T, mounted upon any fixed part of the engine structure being provided for that purpose, the lug or bracket arm, F on the chamber, F, being secured to said bracket, E, by bolts passing through the slot of said last-mentioned bracket. In such adjustment, corresponding adjustment will be made of the pipe connection, K, between the strainer and the chamber, F, said pipe connection being screwed up more or less into the strainer; Usually, it will be convenient to connect the lower end of the chamber, F, with the portion of the conduit therefrom which extends through the mania fold by a sufficiently long horizontal member of the ipe, P, to permit the necessary vertical ad ustment of the chamber, F, by the flexure or spring ofsuch horizontal pipe, and without adjusting the thread connection of the pipe with the bottom of the chamber, F. For slight adjustment, it will he usually more convenient, instead of bodily adjusting the chamber, F, as described,

to adjust the float within the chamber, and' this may be done by screwing the pipe connection, K, up or down through both the top cap of the chamber, F, and the bottom cap or plug of the strainer so as to move the valve seat which is formed by the end of said connecting pipe, K, up or down in the chamber, F. A corresponding adjustment of the plug, M, may be made sufiiciently to prevent the stem, L, from escaping either from the guidance of said plug or from that of the pipe, K.

I do not limit myself for all purposes to heating'the water by means of the exhaust ases, though specifically this is the preerred method, and the construction for that purpose is specifically claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with the carbureter and the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a source of water supply, and a conduit leading therefrom and discharging into the carbureter, and intermediately extending through the exhaust passage and automatic means controlling the level of water in said conduit at the portion thereof which extends through the exhaust passage.

2. In combination with the carbureter and exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a' source of water supply and a conduit leading therefrom and discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending through the exhaust passage; means for controlling the level of water in said conduit at the portion thereof which extends through the exhaust passage comprising a float chamber forming a part of the conduit; a float in said chamber and a valve carried thereby and a seat for such valve, the seat for said valve being adjustable vertically in the chamber for varying the height of water controlled by the float.

3. In combination with the carbureter and exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a source of water supply and a conduit leading therefrom and discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending through the exhaust passage, said conduit comprising a float chamber mounted for vertical adjustment; a valve seat through which the water reaches said cham her, a float in said chamber and a valve mounted on said float and seating on said seat for controlling the passage of water through the chamber.

4;. In combination with the carbureter and exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a source ofwater supply, a conduit communicating with said source and discharging into the carbureter, and intermediately extending through the exhaust passage, and means for controlling the supply of water passing through said conduit, said conduit comprising a water chamber whose cavity extends through the level of that portion of the conduit which extends through the exhaust passage, and said water-supplycontrolling means comprising a valve controlling the passage of water through said chamber, and a float in the chamber controlling such valve.

5. In an internal combustion engine, in combination with a carbureter and an exhaust passage, means for supplying steam to the carbureter comprising a water chamher and a source of water supply therefor;

a discharge pipe from such chamber extending upwardly through the exhaust passage for exposure to the exhaust gases therein without communication therewith, and thence to the carbureter for discharge thereinto; a valve which controls the admission of water to such conduit, and a float which governs the valve positioned and connected for closing said valve to maintain the water level at a point within the vertical extent. of said upwardly extending and exposed portion of said conduit.

6. An internal combustion engine, in combination with the carbureter and the exhaust passage, means for supplying steam to the carbureter, comprising a water chamber and a source of water supply therefor; a discharge connection therefrom into the carbureter which intermediately extends through the exhaust passage, said water chamber having its cavity extending through the level of the portion of said discharge connection which extends through I the exhaust passage; a valve which controls the supply of Water to said chamber and a float in the chamber governing the valve.

diator, a conduit leading off from said connection intermediate the water jacket and the radiator discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending through the manifold, said conduit comprising anterior to the portion extending through the manifold a water chamber; a valve which con-V trols the entrance of water to said chamber, and a float in the chamber which controls said valve, said chamber being positioned so as to extend through the level of the portion of the conduit which extends through the manifold.

9. In combination with the water jacket,

carbureter, exhaust manifold and radiator of an internal combustion en inc, and the connection from the water jac et to the radiator, a conduit leading off from said connection intermediate the water jacket and the radiator discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending through the manifold, said conduit comprising a device for controlling the flow of water through the conduit, and a strainer anterior to said device.

10. In an internal combustion engine, in combination with a carbureter, a source of water supply; a conduit leading from said source and communicating with the carbureter; a passage containing a heating medium, said conduit intermediate the water said passage without communication therewith; means for controlling the level of water in said conduit at the portion which extends through said passage, said means comprising a float chamber which forms a part of the conduit; a float in said chamber and a valve carried thereby for controlling the passage ofwater through the chamber.

11. In combination with a carbureter of an internal combustion engine, a source of water supply anda heating means; aconduit leading from said source and discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending throughsaid heating means; means for controlling the supply of water passing through said conduit comprising a float chamber which forms a part of the conduit; a float in said chamber and a valve carried thereby for controlling the passage of water through the chamber, the seat for said valve being adjust-able vertically in the chamber to vary the height of water controlled by the float.

12. In combination with a carbureter of an internal combustion engine, a source of Water'supply; a heating chamber therefor; a conduit leading from the water source and discharging into the carbureter and intermediately extending through the heating chamber, the conduit comprising a water chamber whose cavity extends through the level of that portion of the conduit which extends through the heating chamber; a valve which controls the su pl of water to said chamber, and a float 1n t e chamber governing the valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Little Rock, Arkansas, this 7 day of August 1911.

HARRY A. BABBITT. 

